| For Pickens, 2009 clouded by weak economy |
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Major disappointments cited as the economy and decline in tax revenuessarmentrout@bigcanoenews.com
Despite the challenges the county faced in 2009, Jones’ overall assessment of 2009 was upbeat, and he remained quite positive about the future of Pickens County and its part in the future of the state of Georgia. “I hope the next twelve months are more prosperous that what we have experienced the past twelve months,” Jones said. According to the Pickens County web site, Local Option Sales Tax revenues are estimated to be down approximately 23 percent in 2009 compared with 2008. As Jones noted, not only are revenues down locally but the county has had funding from the State of Georgia cut substantially. Jones covered a number of topics, many involving new initiatives for the county or projects to improve water service. One such was the purchase of a 67-acre tract of land off Route 136 adjoining an 800-acre parcel already owned by the county. This purchase was for $200,000 below the appraised value of the land, and will help protect the water shed for the City of Jasper and the County. This assemblage of land has trails developed by Mountain Stewards and is essential to the accumulation of water in Grandview Lake. In the personal health and safety area, Jones noted that in 2009 the county inaugurated a “Code Red” emergency alert system and has built and staffed the new fire station on Monument Road. The latter has access to Big Canoe, and the Code Red alert system provides a call to residents’ home or cell phones to let them know of an impending alarm from fire or weather. The county’s water system is now tied into that of Big Canoe, which will improve water pressure available for fire fighting in this area. The county now has a total of four full time EMS vehicles plus another one staffed part time. There is an updated “Hazard Mitigation Plan” for the county in the event of any disaster—tornados, infectious viruses, or anything of an emergency nature. An Emergency Operations Center see above note has been established right behind the county’s office building on Route 53. Also the county has worked with the federal government and other agencies in the State of Georgia to update Pickens’ flood mapping system. New maps will be available in 2010. When asked to list the major disappointments during the past year, Jones singled out that the decline in the economy, “especially the severe decline in sales tax revenues.” Another setback that provided a challenge was the elimination of funds for road maintenance and construction from the State of Georgia. There remain 110 miles of single lane dirt roads in Pickens County, he pointed out. State funds are generally used to upgrade these roads, and there were no funds from this source in 2009. Jones said several roads (e.g., Old Burnt Mountain and Old Grandview), were rebuilt and paved in 2009, while Salem Church Road was resurfaced. This was done in the face of the elimination of road funds available from the state of Georgia. The Commissioner also cited the completion of improvements to the Pickens County Airport, which has one of the few 5000 foot runways in the area. A new South Taxiway and terminal apron have been completed, and the county has purchased 17 acres of land to be used for another taxiway plus hangers for corporate aircraft. Soon the runway will be extended by 500 feet to 5,500 feet in order to facilitate take offs and landings of corporate jets. The Commissioner placed a great deal of emphasis upon improving water delivery systems to various parts of the county in order to improve drinking water quality and to improve insurance ISO ratings. The county has installed 8” water lines in the several areas of the county and has approved a contract for the construction of a new 500,000-gallon elevated water tank in Tate to replace an aging 100,000 tank. This new tank will be paid for partly with a $615,000 loan from the Federal Stimulus program. In the area of internal administration, Pickens County has modified its web site and is managing that web site internally rather than through an outside contractor. A county marshal has been appointed to oversee tax collections, code enforcement and misdemeanors. This officer presently serves two days per week but will be serving on a full time basis in 2010. There are plans to construct a permanent shelter for stray cats and dogs in the coming year. At present, the animals collected by the new Animal Control officers are housed at kennels in local veterinarians’ offices. |
| Big Canoe Living Photo Gallery March 2010 |
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